Reynolds Ford Lincoln of Edmond
600 W. Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73114 405-475-9000 www.reynoldsautos.com
E D M O N D, O K L A H O MA
SEPTEMBER 2014
VOL. 6 | NO. 9
INSIDE
2014
PUBLISHER Karan Ediger 405-341-2121 kediger@edmondsun.com MANAGING Lisa Shearer EDITOR 405-341-2121 lshearer@edmondsun.com
PETERSON GUIDES JETTA THROUGH NATIONAL EXPANSION
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MULTIMEDIA Carolyn Womack-Jenner SALES 405-341-2121 MANAGER cjenner@edmondsun.com
DON’T FORGET ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR START-UPS
SALES TEAM Terri Bohanan Brittany Eddins Kaycee Wagner CONTRIBUTING Mike Crandall WRITERS Jim Denton Cyndy Hoenig Nick Massey Patty Miller Van Mitchell Tim Priebe Terri Schlichenmeyer Mark Schlachtenhaufen
When Matt Peterson, chief executive officer of Jetta Corporation, walks through the Jetta showroom and manufacturing plant in Edmond, he takes time out to say hello to the employees each by their first name with the employees responding in kind.
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As a member of the community and a prior business owner, I am proud to see Edmond is becoming one of the premier locations for starting a new technology company in the state. I enjoy being able to provide legal advice on intellectual property rights to new and existing technology companies throughout Edmond and Oklahoma. LOCAL HOSPITALS REACH ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD DEADLINE
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In an effort to decrease medical costs and improve patient care, the federal government is moving toward implementing electronic health records for all Americans.
James Coburn HOW TO GET YOUR IDEA OFF THE DRAWING BOARD
Miss your Business Times? Call 341-2121 to get on our mailing list. Thanks! The Business Times is a monthly publication of The Edmond Sun devoted to business in the Edmond area. All rights reserved. Copyright © September 2014.
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With the advancement of technology and increased fundraising options, there is no better time to start working on and developing invention ideas.
COVER PHOTO BY KAREN MOORE | SPECIAL TO THE BUSINESS TIMES September 2014 | The Business Times
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from our Publisher
Life experiences show us what to be grateful for in business
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here are times in business where an unexpected experience just makes you view life differently. I recently had that experience and am honored to share it with all of you. In July I got a phone call from a colleague who asked me if I would be willing to host a woman in business who was trying to start a form of what we would call a shopper newspaper. The woman was from Rwanda and was attempting to get the business off the ground. I gladly accepted. Lyliose Nduhungriehe spent the afternoon at The Edmond Sun. She explained there were no papers like the one she planned to start in Rwanda so her biggest challenge was to get the people of Rwanda used to what she was doing. She is just starting the paper named Tangaza (which means “advertise”) and her favorite part of what she is doing is being her own boss. She values working hard and is pleased to do so for her own business. Lyliose’s (she asked to always be referred to by her first name as her last name is quite complicated) goal is to make her paper “the paper” to advertise in. She also has dreams of establishing others in neighboring countries. When asked what advice she would give to other women in countries such as Rwanda she said, “Don’t be afraid to get started! This is one of the ways to be independent.” She learned a lot about all the departments including a trip to see our press and how it runs. That fascinated her as all of their papers in Rwanda print in other countries. While she learned a lot from us we definitely learned more from her. Her positive attitude, drive and willingness to do what it took to get Tangaza off the ground were admirable to say the least. She is an awesome woman and we wish her the best of luck.
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September 2014 | The Business Times
What’s coming up for The Business Times and The Edmond Sun? As I’ve been mentioning every month The Edmond Sun celebrated 125 years in July. Beginning in September there will be an exhibit titled “The Edmond Sun: Connecting Our Community 1889-2014” put together by the Edmond Historical Society and Museum, 431 S. Boulevard. We also invite you to a special reception from 5:307:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Edmond Historical Society to celebrate.
KARAN EDIGER is publisher of The Business Times of Edmond, The Edmond Sun and Community Connection.
Peterson Guides Jetta Through National Expansion By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times Photos By Karen Moore
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hen Matt Peterson, chief executive officer of Jetta Corporation, walks through the Jetta showroom and manufacturing plant in Edmond, he takes time out to say hello to the employees each by their first name with the employees responding in kind. It is that type of relationship Peterson says that helps make Jetta a great company and a great place to work. “I think that type of interaction is important because I think everyone wants to feel included and feel like they are a key part of a successful team,” Peterson said. “It doesn’t matter if you are driving a forklift, putting jets on a tub in the plant or working in the showroom, you are part of our success. Knowing all my employees and taking time to say hi and converse with them during the day hopefully makes them feel they are an important part of the team, because they are.” Peterson, 51, came to Jetta Corporation at 425 Centennial Boulevard in 2008 after serving as vice president of sales and marketing at York International in Norman. The Michigan native said getting to work in his adopted hometown was something he couldn’t pass up. “I had 11 years at Whirlpool and was head of the Kitchen Aid brand there and in 1998 I was recruited from southeastern Michigan to York International in Norman as vice president of sales and marketing,” Peterson said. “I was there for nine years and we sold the company to Johnson Controls. This opportunity came open. I am an Edmond resident and this was a real good fit for me to take this step from being a vice president to becoming president of a local company.” Peterson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kalamazoo College and later earned his master’s degree in business from Michigan State University. Peterson said one of the first jobs he tackled at Jetta was reshaping its business strategy. “We got out of countertops about four years ago and just focused on bathtubs,” he said. Another change was expanding the company, 6
September 2014 | The Business Times
which now employs 60 people. “In 2008 we were in about seven states with showrooms like this one (in Edmond) and we changed that strategy when I came on board to get out of our own showrooms and expand through wholesale distributors,” Peterson said. “We are in about 35 states now. We now compete with companies like Kohler and Jacuzzi. We have dramatically grown our geographic footprint and we have dramatically grown our product line for all these markets.” The company manufactures premier insulated tubs sold all across the United States. Their line includes more than 200 models that feature everything from rotating back jets for hydrotherapy massage to air jets for a soft, soothing ambiance. “We produce a huge range of products,” Peterson said. “We don’t produce a specific bathtub for a specific segment. With Jetta you can get any tub you want for any application.” Q: How would you describe your leadership style? A: It is energetic and enthusiastic. A big part of my job is to make sure everybody is excited about what we are doing. I believe that we can accomplish big goals and we do it by having the best people in the industry. Q: Jetta Corporation has continued to grow. What is your vision for the company? A: To be big and grow you have to have a national footprint. My goal coming in was making us a national company. In order to do that we had to listen to the employees and the customers as to what they want. If we listen and respond then we can grow the company. Q: You have said despite the company growth, Jetta will always remain humble to its roots. Why is that? A: Our goal is to grow and become a national company but keep a smaller company mindset. The advantage of being a small company is being quick and able to respond. The larger companies tend to be more bureaucratic and don’t listen to customers and return phone calls or emails. We
are the anti-bureaucratic. We are the kind of “yes we can” company. Q: How have you been able to keep that small market attitude and still compete in the larger markets? A: Besides our products, I think the main reason is the people. We try not to micromanage here. We try to get good people here, develop a direction and let them do their thing. Q: What has been the biggest challenge in growing this company? A: One of the biggest challenges we have as we expand into new markets is that people don’t know Jetta. We have to create credibility with new customers that have never heard of us before and let them know what we offer and what we are all about. Q: You recently started a relationship with Key Health Institute of Edmond for your employees. What is that program about? A: We launched our corporate program with them back in February. JettaFit combines a front-end wellness program at Key Health with a personalized training program that is customized for each employee, depending on their needs and fitness status. If a Jetta employee works out once a week on average over a three month period, Jetta pays 100 percent of their fitness membership at Key. This includes the meetings with the physician and the personal trainer and the program they develop together. We also have contests and prizes for participation to keep the enthusiasm level up. Q: How has JettaFit worked so far? A: Our goal is happier, healthier, more active employees and fitness is a big part of that. We have 40 to 45 employees that work out over
there. It has been a nice rallying point. Q: You were recently chosen as the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce chairman for 2014. What has that experience been like? A: This is the first time that I have really been able to be involved in the community because I was gone all the time with my previous work. Getting involved with Jetta has allowed me to get way more involved in the community and that involvement has been spurred by the Chamber of Commerce. The chamber activities have kept me pretty busy.
Annual Edmond Sun/ Edmond Neighborhood Alliance
Community Picnic Tuesday, Oct. 7 • 6-8 p.m.
Hafer Park
Duck Pond Pavilion
Public d Invite
Q: What do you envision for the company in the next five to 10 years? A: My long-term vision of the company as we grow our product line, distribution and expand our plant is to become one of the largest bathtub manufacturers in the industry and the most respected one. We also put a ton of value in Jetta being a workplace of choice for Oklahoma residents.
September 2014 | The Business Times
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Don’t Forget About Intellectual Property Rights for Start-Ups
By Tynia Watson | Guest Opinion
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s a member of the community and a prior business owner, I am proud to see Edmond is becoming one of the premier locations for starting a new technology company in the state. I enjoy being able to provide legal advice on intellectual property rights to new and existing technology companies throughout Edmond and Oklahoma. Abundant resources for start-up companies exist within the city, including UCO’s Small Business Development Center, its Catbird Seat Business Incubator and Francis Tuttle’s new Business Innovation Center. These establishments provide services, training, programs and consultations to help new businesses succeed. In addition to utilizing these resources, a new technology company must ensure it is protecting some of its most precious assets — its intellectual property. Intellectual property encompasses several categories, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. Prior to launching any new technology into the marketplace, a company must consider protecting its technology and ensuring it is not infringing on someone else’s intellectual property rights. Some business owners are reluctant to invest the requisite time and money into protecting their intellectual property, yet, failing to protect these assets can result in a significant loss of rights. First, a company should invest in a distinct trademark for its products and/or services. Distinctive trademarks are those that are fanciful or arbitrary (like Exxon and Apple for computers) or suggestive (like Subway for sandwiches). A company should avoid descriptive marks (e.g., Computer Land for a computer store) that merely describe the goods and services, as these types of marks are typically afforded little to no trademark protection. Additionally, prior to selecting a trademark, a company should evaluate the risks associated with using the mark, including risks of infringing another’s trademark or risks that the mark will not be afforded trademark protection. A company that plans on utilizing a website to advertise also should consider securing the website address, or URL, utilizing the trademark prior to launching its product/services so that others are unable to capitalize on the trademark. In addition to trademark rights, a technology company is likely to have software or various inventions that it should endeavor to protect either by keeping them secret or by applying for copyrights or patents. A company also should ensure it uses carefully drafted non-disclosure agreements prior to disclosing any of its technology to a third party. Patenting an innovative technology provides a business with the ability to prevent others from making or using that technology. However, it is important to understand that a patent does not grant the owner any right to make or use the patented technology because third party patents or other intellectual property rights might be infringed if the company makes or sells its products without sufficient research into that area of technology. 8
September 2014 | The Business Times
Intellectual property protection should never be ignored. In particular, for any business focused on technology, knowledge about intellectual property rights and due diligence is likely to be a determining factor in that company’s success. TYNIA WATSON is an associate in Crowe & Dunlevy’s Oklahoma City office, a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and member of the Francis Tuttle Launch Pad Advisory Council, which is part of the Francis Tuttle Business Innovation Center.
Local Hospitals Reach Electronic Medical Record Deadline By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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n an effort to decrease medical costs and improve patient care, the federal government is moving toward implementing electronic health records for all Americans. A key provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has gone into effect, and health care providers in Oklahoma and across the country are working to comply. As of Jan. 1, all public and private health care providers and other eligible professionals must have adopted and demonstrated “meaningful use” of electronic medical records in order to maintain their existing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement levels. Tim Johnsen, president of INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, said meaningful use was established by the federal government as an incentive for hospitals and health care providers to get on electronic health records. Electronic health records (EHRs) are detailed accounts of a patient’s health information, generated by multiple health care providers. An EHR typically contains information such as the patient’s demographics, contact information, vital signs, allergies, medical history, current and past medications, immunizations, radiology reports and laboratory data. “So many hospitals and doctors were and are paper-based,” Johnsen said. “The thinking is there is great benefit to get us all on electronic platforms eventually someday with one patient and one record that follows the patient no matter where they go. The federal government provided incentive dollars through this meaningful use program at various stages for either an individual physician clinic or hospital to get if they meet certain measurable criteria by a certain date.” Johnsen said the INTEGRIS system has been proactive to meet the new objectives. “I am really excited about meaningful use,” he said. “INTEGRIS is in a great position and meeting all requirements and doing very well.” Dennis Gimmel, director of the patient portal with OU Medical Center Edmond, said the OU medical system has been actively involved meeting the requirements. “Right now we are on goal,” Gimmel said. “We are compliant with the measures that have been required as of this point. The goal of all 10
September 2014 | The Business Times
this is to empower patients and improve their health care and to make the health care more efficient.” Dr. Cullen Thomas, president of Mercy Clinic of Oklahoma and senior vice president of medical documentation, said Mercy has created its own standards. “At Mercy we have tried to set the bar higher than the government,” Thomas said. “We hold ourselves to a little higher standard. We are in year three and it gets harder every year and we have to work more and more. We were very fortunate that we selected an electronic health record fairly early in the history of this bill. We have all our hospitals and all our clinics all on one record. In the old days you would have a chart for every admission. By going to electronic records we have one patient and one record. We had that in place before meaningful use began.” Thomas said one of the ways Mercy has been meeting the objectives is through the MyMercy app that patients can use on their smartphones or tablets and pull up their patient records, make doctors’ appointments and talk to their doctors via email. TECHNOLOGY BRINGS EFFICIENCY, COSTS Gimmel said the new objectives are aimed to make the EMR system more efficient. “The whole idea is to make the system more seamless and empower people to make better decisions about their health care,” Gimmel said. “And hopefully it makes it efficient enough to save money in the long run.” Thomas said implementing the objectives is not cheap. “It is very expensive,” Thomas said. “The government payment for meeting the meaningful use criteria doesn’t even come close to paying for the cost of it. If you meet the criteria for all of it in five years you are going to get $40,000 back, per physician. It might pay for half of it and you have to do all the work.” Penalties also exist for non-compliance. Providers who haven’t implemented EMR/EHR systems and demonstrated their meaningful use by 2015 will experience a 1 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements, and rates of reduction likely will rise annually thereafter.
The EMR/EMH mandate is already effecting significant growth in health informatics, an interdisciplinary field of study that merges information technology and health care. Health care professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop, implement and manage IT software and applications in a medical environment are already in high demand, and the field is expected to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has yet to publish data on health informatics due to the field’s relative youth, does anticipate a more than 20 percent rate of growth in employment opportunities for other related positions — including medical records/health information technicians, medical/health managers, computer support specialists and computer systems managers — in the decade from 2010 to 2020. Johnsen said INTEGRIS created a governance committee and added a meaningful use coordinator to oversee the transition. “About 18 months ago we shifted to a more operational focus with a meaningful use governance committee that oversees the EMR program,” he said. “We also added a meaningful use coordinator. We are in a very progressive state in terms of meaningful use and where we are going with it.” Thomas said the new objectives are not popular with a segment of the health care community. “There is a lot of pressure in health care today to be more productive and do more for less,” Thomas said. “If you take more time for the patient you are in conflict of that. The resistance in health care is that this (objective) slows them down and they don’t want to use them.” Thomas said electronic health records have both pros and cons, but if used right it can be an efficient tool for the health care field. “In general the electronic health record can be both a very good thing for health care and it can also be problematic,” Thomas said. “There are a lot of people who think that electronic health records get between the doctor and the patient. It isn’t always the friendliest feature in the room but if used properly it doesn’t get in the way.”
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How to Get Your Idea Off the Drawing Board By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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ith the advancement of technology and increased fundraising options, there is no better time to start working on and developing invention ideas. That’s according to Steve Montgomery, a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience designing, producing and marketing technology products in a wide array of commercial and industrial applications. Montgomery made those statements to a group of about 20 inventors attending the 2014 Oklahoma Inventors Congress annual meeting Aug. 9 at the Francis Tuttle Technology Business Innovation Center in Edmond. The program featured discussions, panels, questions and answers led by Montgomery on conceptualization, prototyping and marketing including current crowd-funding options. The Oklahoma Inventors Congress is a nonprofit self-help Oklahoma corporation. The OIC’s purpose includes providing educational information about the process of securing and marketing intellectual properties. “If you are an entrepreneur-minded person especially someone who is product minded there has never been a better time to live,” Montgomery said. “Today the tools exist at your house with a little bit of application you can learn how to design, build, market and sell a product completely from your home.” Montgomery said there are opportunities in Oklahoma for entrepreneurs. “We have two great universities with good technology programs and yet we don’t have a fraction of the type of professionals that you would find in Dallas, Houston or Austin,” he said. “We have so much brain drain here it is not even funny.” Montgomery told audience members about some of his successes and failures during his career including his current venture, Digital Six Laboratories, which is focused on developing a machine-to-cloud technology platform for connecting “things” to the Internet. “For the last 20 years I have been involved with every aspect,” Montgomery said. “I developed the products. I sold them at trade shows. I have raised money. I have had successes and have had failures.” Montgomery said most of his failures taught him valuable lessons. “The failures taught me everything,” he said. Montgomery said he is constantly thinking about new product ideas or ways to improve products already on the market. He said he carries with him a notebook where he writes down every thought and idea for projects. He advised every inventor to do the same. Montgomery also discussed conceptualization, which he describes as the art of creating the product in your mind. “Conceptualization is a very important step in the process,” he said. “Ideas are live arm pits. Everyone has one and they stink. Until you turn that idea and convince somebody to take money out of their pocket and put it in your hand you don’t actually have anything of value.” Montgomery said design is the next step in the process. He said most people can do that from home. “Design is something that you don’t have to have a staff or spend a ton of money,” he said. “There are a lot of places online where you can find people in Croatia, India to do very inexpensive work for you and they do good work. I have a designer in India that does all of my graphic work and I pay almost nothing.” Montgomery said creating a prototype of a product is important to show potential investors what you are attempting to achieve. “You need to have some kind of documented design that you can share with people,” he said. “That is where your prototype comes from, where your investment pitch comes from. That is the thing that lets you prove to yourself that this is worth your time and money. A prototype doesn’t prove 12
September 2014 | The Business Times
to the investor that you can sell the product but it does prove to them that you have clearly defined it and that you can build it and lets them consider in their own mind that this is something that they would buy.” Montgomery said time is an invaluable tool. “People don’t ever put value on time,” he said. “The thing about time is you get 24 hours in a day. You get the same 24 hours that Donald Trump gets. The difference is what you do with it. That is your most valuable asset. That is the thing you want to guard by documenting your product,” he said. Montgomery said fundraising is a big part of getting an idea to reality. He said there are a number of options for people to consider ranging from getting friends and family to invest to creating crowdfunding campaigns through Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. “If you are going to raise money try to raise money from people you know first,” he said. “Trust is everything. Crowdfunding is great, but it is not something to enter into lightly. It takes a lot of work.” Montgomery said when it comes time to promote and sell a product, utilizing online sites like eBay and Amazon can be useful. “eBay has made it almost impossible to make money because of its policies anymore,” Montgomery said. “Amazon is really catching up and it is a great way to get your product out there.” Social media is also another avenue that inventors should pursue. “You need to use social media,” Montgomery said. “You need to use Facebook and Twitter. They will be your best friend. That builds a lot of momentum.”
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I have people tell me what they’ve spent playing one round at Pebble Beach and a night at the hotel, or going to Pinehurst for a couple rounds. We do the entire week, travel, hotel, green fees, good meals and everything for the price of one day at these places. And it’s absolutely a sensational place to come. TO PLAN YOUR VISIT to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, visit rtjresorts.com or call 1.800.949.4444 today. facebook.com/rtjgolf twitter.com/rtjgolf
Gadget Gift Guide What to Get for On-the-Go Businesspeople By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times Photos Provided By AT&T
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echnology has made tremendous strides in the past decade offering up a variety of new smartphones, tablets and applications for them. And, yet there are still many products out there for business and pleasure that most people haven’t heard of that are available for consumers to try. “We have 400 to 500 items that you would never see in a store that are made specifically for business owners or workers,” said Tom Nix, data sales consultant with Verizon Wireless in Oklahoma City. Nix said one example is Verizon’s ZEPP Golf Swing Analyzer. Using a small wireless sensor that clips onto your golf glove, ZEPP Golf analyzes your swing in 3-D from any angle. It tracks all the elements that add up to a perfect swing, including the club head speed, swing plane, hand path, tempo, backswing position and hip rotation. Nix said you can compare and share your swing with others, and get personalized tips, drills and coaching. ZEPP Golf is compatible with many Apple, Samsung, HTC and Android products. “It essentially is a golf instructor only a lot cheaper and one that you can wear on your wrist,” Nix said. “It is able to analyze everything and give you feedback through your phone or your computer. It is a pretty nice product.” For those trips to the great outdoors, the Brigadier by Kyocera can take much of the abuse nature can devise, Nix said. This Android-based smartphone can survive drops, dunks and dust with its nearly scratchproof Sapphire Shield display and water-resistant case. Nix said the Brigadier is so durable that it meets U.S. military standards for protection against shock, dust, vibration, temperature extremes, blowing rain, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity and water immersion. It is available only to Verizon Wireless subscribers. “This is effectively a military spec smartphone,” Nix said. “It is waterproof and water resistant, scratch-proof and drop-proof. If you drop it in the pool or in the toilet it is not going to be a problem.” Nix also highlighted Verizon’s newest tablet, the Sony Xperia Z2. He said it is lightweight, waterproof and dust-resistant and features scratchresistant glass. The Xperia is available only to Verizon Wireless subscribers. “This is the first Sony tablet we have sold and it is a Verizon exclusive,” Nix said. “It is a full-sized tablet that can do everything a full-sized laptop can do.” Nix said Verizon also offers the Jawbone Up24, which is a wristband that tracks steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and even tracks nutrition and sleep patterns. It also wakes a person at the right moment in their sleep cycle to ward off those afternoon yawns. “It wraps around your wrist and comes in three different sizes and tracks the amount of distance that you walk in a day,” Nix said. “You can input calories, your water intake and it tracks your sleep patterns. It has a timer on it. The device will start vibrating and get you up and moving. The whole idea is to keep you active.” Nix said the Mophie Space Pack doubles your iPhone’s battery life and gives you as much as 32GB of additional memory. The Space Pack is the first battery case with built-in storage. 14
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“Mophie made its name off of being a battery extender for iPhones,” he said. “Now they offer apps for Android phones as well. They added a memory card that doubles or triples the storage space of your iPhone so that you can store more photos, more documents or whatever you need.” WHAT’S NEW AT AT&T David Underwood, director of sales for AT&T in Oklahoma City, said AT&T’s tablet business is growing. “A number of people are moving away from having a laptop because tablets are more convenient,” Underwood said. “Not only that but there are accessories where you would have your own keyboard. It is basically like having your own laptop with the advantages of portability and longer battery life.” Underwood highlighted AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 which is a high performance device that provides all the key business essentials needed to be productive without sacrificing portability or security. Some of its key features include Hancom Office for Android, enhanced Multi Window view (up to four applications); integrated S Pen stylus and 12.2 HD display. Underwood said the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is a smartphone designed with the active person in mind. He said the phone is dustproof, water-resistant up to 3 feet for 30 minutes, and shock-resistant when dropped from 4 feet onto a flat surface. “It is rugged,” he said. “It can handle a number of drops.” Underwood said AT&T is keeping pace with a variety of new features including its Samsung Gear2.
“The great thing about smartwatches is that you don’t have to reach down to grab your phone,” Underwood said. “I can look down and see the alert on my watch. I can make a decision whether I need to respond to this or can it wait? It is pretty much like what we saw in James Bond about 20 years ago. It is truly coming to life.” Some of the Samsung Gear2 features include voice command technology, 2MP camera, heart rate monitor, accelerometer and pedometer. Underwood said another feature is AT&T’s wireless home phone/ Internet program, which whether you’re on vacation or moving to a new home, you can take your home number and Internet connection with you. If you live in an AT&T 4G LTE area, Wireless Home Phone and Internet lets customers surf, share photos and videos, even work from home at 4G LTE speeds, connect up to 10 wireless devices including tablets, smartphones and laptops and connect a home phone for unlimited nationwide calling. Home security is another area that consumers can utilize their smartphones and tablets with. With AT&T’s Digital Life, customers can now stay connected to their home from almost anywhere with 24/7 monitored home security and automation from their smartphone, tablet or PC. Underwood said consumers can check on their homes, children and pets or even adjust their home thermostat on the go. “This is not your normal home security system,” he said. “I will be able to know when my family arrives home or whether my wife sets the alarm or whether or not the garage door is left open. The best part about it is the automation, which can help make your life easier and all be managed by an app from your table or cell phone.” For more information about any of these products visit a local Verizon Wireless or AT&T store or go online at www.att.com or www.verizonwireless.com.
September 2014 | The Business Times
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Chamber, Businesses Welcome New Teachers Photos by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times
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he Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a New Teacher Reception in August at the Oak Tree Golf and Country Club. New teachers and administrators from Edmond and Deer Creek area schools as well as new teachers at the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University and the Francis Tuttle Technology Center were recognized and eligible for free prizes. More than 150 attended the event.
Kevin Garcia, Orvis Risner Elementary assistant principal, Keith Pautler, Ida Freeman Elementary principal, and Nicole Marler, Ida Freeman Elementary assistant principal, welcome new teachers during the New Teacher Reception sponsored by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jenna Gibson, Centennial Elementary kindergarten teacher, Pam LaFollette, Ida Freeman Elementary third grade teacher, and her husband Todd Reagor.
Centennial Elementary School faculty and administrator include: Jenna Gibson, kindergarten, Katie Mears, third grade, Assistant Principal Michele Bardrick, Sharon Zimmerman, school psychologist, Kendall Walker, second grade, and Kyven Zhao, University of Oklahoma faculty.
Amy Anderson, Northern Hills Elementary, and her husband, Chris Anderson.
Cross Timbers Elementary School assistant principals Stephanie Cline and Jamila Crawford and Principal Cathy Bugg.
Edmond Superintendent David Goin, Francis Tuttle Superintendent/ CEO Tom Friedemann and Francis Tuttle Superintendent of Instruction Jared Scott.
Vance Black, Santa Fe High School End of Instruction History.
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Jonathan Atchley, Cimarron assistant principal; Cordell Ehrich, Cimarron Middle School, principal, and Shana Perry, Summit Middle School principal.
Kevin Terrell and Dani Terrell, Central Middle School yearbook adviser.
The Edmond Sun representatives Lisa Shearer-Salim, editor; Suzanne Hamlin, circulation and marketing director; and Karan Ediger, publisher; handed out brochures and had a drawing for two Wal-Mart gift cards.
Angie Debo Elementary Christine Lugafet, assistant principal; and Candice Delcamp, principal.
Washington Irving Elementary Suzanne Dougherty, principal, Natalie Wehmuller, fifth grade, and Lidia Flores, fifth grade.
September 2014 | The Business Times
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WHAT’S NEW?
Around Town
KEN’S PIZZA MAKES EDMOND DEBUT DEL TACO READY TO OPEN IN EDMOND Del Taco’s new Edmond location is nearing completion. In August 2013, the Edmond Planning Commission approved the site plan 5-0 for the restaurant at the southeast corner of East Second Street and Waterwood Parkway. Applicant Bill Stubbs and Company built the structure. The site plan included a 2,720-square-foot structure and a 20-foot-ground sign. The existing driveway and entrance remain as designed with no left turns into this site westbound on Second Street.
EDMOND MARKET PLACE GETS A FACELIFT A multi-million total renovation continues at the new Edmond Market Place shopping center south of 33rd Street and west of Boulevard. Vanguard Development bought the property in 2013 and is handling the shopping center’s redevelopment after more than five years of vacancies. An investment of about $3 million will refurbish the center with a new roof, glass, sidewalks, parking lights, upgrading the parking lot and a completely new façade of the shopping center. Attractive landscaping will replace the Bradford Pear trees that had been cut back in previous years. The property encompasses 96,112 square feet and was built in 1981. Features will include brand new lighting for both visual appeal and security. According to the City of Edmond, 43,000 vehicles per day cross the Boulevard-33rd Street intersection. 18
September 2014 | The Business Times
The new Edmond Ken’s Pizza, 628 W. Danforth, is open for business. Training of the restaurant crew began in July and the location opened its doors in August. Ken’s Pizza is a family owned restaurant company founded by Ken Selby of Tulsa. Since 1961 Ken’s Pizza has established a pizza delivery division, offered salad bar and developed a sandwiches service for its clients in Logan County. Ken’s, known for its slogan “The Pizza That Brings You Back,” touts fun, friends, a jukebox, awesome food and fair prices. Most of the Ken’s Pizza locations were converted to Mazzio’s restaurants in the 1980s, but the company has brought back the Ken’s concept due to customer demand.
GROWING EDMOND
PHOTOS PROVIDED | EDMOND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Ribbon Cuttings
NELSON LAW OFFICE RELOCATES OFFICES
The Nelson Law Office recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the relocation of its office to 111 N. Broadway. Richard Nelson has practiced law in the Oklahoma City area for more than 30 years and has maintained an office in downtown Edmond since 2000. His areas of practice are Social Security disability law and personal injury law. His wife, Karen, is recognized as a nonattorney representative by the Social Security Administration, and she has been helping individuals obtain Social Security disability benefits for the past 18 years. She is currently the chairperson of the Oklahoma Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives. For more information, visit www.nelsonlawoklahoma.com, or call 405-844-0322 for a free consultation.
SERVPRO OPENS EDMOND LOCATION
SERVPRO, a premier cleanup and restoration company, recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its Edmond location at 112 N.E. 138th St. SERVPRO® of Edmond will respond to the community’s property damage emergencies, ranging from multi-million dollar disasters to those suffered by individual businesses and homeowners. SERVPRO of Edmond is capable of cleaning and restoring a fire, a mold or water-damaged building and its contents, including: wall, ceiling and floor surfaces, furniture, fabric, fixtures and more. For more information, call Dave Jones at 405-330-2095 or visit www.servproedmond.com.
CHAMBER WELCOMES HOME CARE ASSISTANCE TO EDMOND
Home Care Assistance recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of its new Edmond location at 323 S. Blackwelder Ave. Home Care Assistance is a leading provider of in-home care for seniors. The highly trained caregivers at Home Care Assistance provide hourly and live-in services to seniors, allowing them to remain safely and comfortably in their homes as they age. Caregivers are trained in the Balanced Care Method™, a holistic approach to care based on scientific studies of the elder population in Okinawa, Japan. The Balanced Care Method promotes excellent physical health, mental awareness and inner calm. For more information, call 285-4191 or visit www.HomeCareAssistanceOklahoma.com.
CHAMBER WELCOMES ROYAL TREATMENT
Royal Treatment Massage recently had a ribbon cutting to celebrate its grand opening at 428 W. 15th St., Suite 3. Royal Treatment Massage offers a top quality, personalized massage experience — specializing in Swedish and deep tissue massage. For more information, call 405-340-0400 or visit www.edmondokmassage.com.
September 2014 | The Business Times
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BUSINESS MATTERS
MIKE CRANDALL GROWTH S OLUTIONS
Common Sense is Not Common
R
ecently I had an interesting phone call from a CEO. He called me out of the blue to express how sorry he was. As you can imagine I was taken aback by this. When I probed he shared he was sorry about what his vice president of sales had done almost two years prior. Obviously this was even more shocking to me. As he elaborated we went back in time two years. He asked me if I remembered his VP of sales calling me. I said I vaguely remembered it (however it was actually crystal clear in my mind, because of what happened). He went on to apologize for him calling, wasting my time and then for insulting me. I was a little speechless. When his VP of Sales had called two years prior he was fairly new with the company. He recently had accepted the job after being found by a headhunter, and then relocated to Oklahoma. He had been given resources to invest in hiring new salespeople and then developing new sales for the company. We had a great conversation. He was inquisitive and shared they were ready to make significant investment in people and processes to drive new sales. He also shared he was going to visit with other sales development consulting firms, which I encouraged (we know we are not the best fit for everyone). At the end of our call we had clear next 20
September 2014 | The Business Times
steps to follow-up. When we did I was perplexed by what happened. He shared he had chosen to go with a different firm, which I shared was very OK and that he would enjoy working with them. Then I asked what the ultimate deciding factor was — he shared that after researching he thought that what we did was common sense and way beneath what he and the team he was building would need. As the CEO replayed the call with me he began to get uncomfortable. Turns out this endeavor of hiring the VP of Sales, relocating him, letting him invest money in people, training, etc., had cost them more than $1 million. When I asked why he was sharing this with me, he shared they had just fired the VP of Sales. Then he said this: “Turns out common sense is not common.” His words almost made me laugh. As I listened to him go on about their current situation it was glaringly obvious how disappointed he was in the past two years and everything that had happened. I could not help but wonder how many bad choices had been made. By the headhunter, the CEO, the VP of Sales, etc. — it was not one choice but a multitude of choices that got them into this situation. How many of them lacked common sense? Finally the CEO asked if we would still
be open to helping them. He was now asking me for help in finding a new VP of Sales because their poor hire and the fired VP of Sales’ arrogance had greatly derailed the momentum of the company. This is a story that plays out far too frequently in the business world today. We think the answer or solution has to be complicated or huge but often it is not. Sometimes it is just common sense and then figuring out how to apply it. So let me ask: How often have you seen lack of common sense derail an opportunity, a person or even a company? It happens far more frequently than you realize. If you are not sure how often this has happened in your company or to you then ask someone who is intuitive and who will be honest. What you learn likely will surprise you. MIKE CRANDALL lives in Edmond. He is a consultant, coach, trainer and speaker focused on sales, management and leadership development for proactive business growth. He can be reached via email at mike.crandall@sandler.com or by phone at 405-844-1700. For more information, go to online to www.customgrowth.sandler.com.
BUSINESS MATTERS
TIM PRIEBE WEBIFIABLE
Can Your Ideal Customer Find You?
L
ast month, we talked about four search engine myths. However, if you’ve ever searched for your organization online, you probably found it, and so you aren’t too concerned. But did you search the right way? If you’ve ever searched for your business or nonprofit online, chances are good that you used your organization’s name. But if someone has never heard of you, but are looking for your type of organization, they won’t know what your name is. Instead, put yourself in the mindset of the person you would ideally want to find you. What would they search for? If you’re a dentist, they might search for “dentist Edmond,” “where is the closest dentist,” or “get cavities filled in Edmond.” If you run a charitable nonprofit that helps the poor with necessities, they might search for “free clothes,” “assistance with Edmond bills,” or “where can I get free groceries in Edmond.” If you run a CPA office, they could be searching for, “CPA in Edmond,” “where can I get my taxes prepared,” or even, “help with IRS trouble.” Of course, those may not be the phrases your ideal customer would use, even if one of those is your industry. Think of what the absolute best customer would use when searching for you.
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Have a phrase in mind? Pull up Google, type in that phrase, and see if you’re on the first page. If not, check the second page. The point is, see if you’re happy with where you are. If not, it may be time to do something! If you want to improve where you show up in the list, also known as your Search Engine Ranking, you can perform some one-time activities, and some recurring activities. One-time activities can be performed just once, or at least just once in a while. That includes things like making sure your website is coded in a search engine friendly manner, and has text that reflects what your ideal customer would search for. It also includes making sure you have a presence on a variety of social media sites. Recurring activities include things like writing helpful blog articles and social
“If you want to improve where you show up in the list, also known as your Search Engine Ranking, you can perform some one-time activities, and some recurring activities.”
media updates on a regular basis, as well as making sure your website’s setup behind the scenes is kept up to date. Some of the one-time activities can be done without the recurring activities, and some of the recurring activities can be done without the one-time activities. Of course, the most benefit is from doing both, and doing the recurring activities on a consistent schedule. Finally, you have to remember that doing those activities rarely has an immediate effect. It takes some time for Google to update your Search Engine Ranking. So if you haven’t already, put yourself in the mindset of your ideal customer, then search. Are you happy with where you show up? If not, what are you going to do about it? Decide if it’s worth investing time, money, both or neither. TIM PRIEBE is a public speaker, the author of the books “102 Tweets: Social Media Update Ideas for Businesses & Nonprofits” and “The Beginner’s Guide To Facebook Timeline for Business” and the owner of T&S Online Marketing in Edmond. He can be reached by email at tim@tandsgo.com, by phone at 405-285-0348 or online at www.tandsgo.com.
You’re Invited The Edmond Sun 125th Anniversary Reception
Thursday, September 25, 2014 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Special Exhibit
August 29 ~ Dec. 20, 2014 The Edmond Sun: Connecting Our Community 1889-2014 This exhibit will include early printing presses, a type case and other artifacts that illuminate the changing face of news technology along with newspapers that were printed as the news unfolded. Join the Edmond Historical Society & Museum and The Edmond Sun to revisit pivotal moments in our history and meet the citizens of Edmond, notable and ordinary alike, as we celebrate this invaluable local resource.
BUSINESS MATTERS
JIM DENTON L EDGER LINES
The Tax Implications of a Foreclosure S ometimes a bad economy will linger on for six, seven or even eight years and, during that period, you may find yourself or your spouse facing prolonged periods of unemployment or underemployment. Money comes and goes, but mostly it goes. That new house that seemed like a good idea several years ago may not seem so great now. As the old saying goes, “stuff happens” and you must rid yourself of the cash-eating homestead. If you find you can no longer keep your home, but can’t simply sell it because you’re underwater, a situation where your mortgage balance exceeds the fair market value of the property, you have two options. FORECLOSURE In addition to challenging you emotionally, foreclosing your primary residence also challenges you financially because foreclosures significantly affect your credit rating. However, from a tax perspective, a foreclosure of your residence usually will have the least effect on your taxes. In a foreclosure situation, the property is considered “sold” for the balance of your mortgage. You will lose any equity you had built up in the house. You could have a gain on the foreclosure sale, but such gain could be excluded from your income if you meet certain ownership and use requirements. 24
September 2014 | The Business Times
SHORT SALE A “short sale” occurs when you sell your property to a third party for less than your mortgage balance. But you must do so with your lender’s approval. Your lender loses in this situation because it receives the sales proceeds, which fail to fully pay off your mortgage debt, instead of the property itself as it would in a foreclosure. Provided that your lender agrees, you would receive a Form 1099 with the difference owed to
“If you find you can no longer keep your home, but can’t simply sell it because you’re underwater, a situation where your mortgage balance exceeds the fair market value of the property, you have two options.”
the lender identified as “cancellation of indebtedness” income, which you must include in your gross income for the year. However, if done before the end of 2014, any “cancellation of indebtedness” income from the short sale of your primary residence is not included in gross income. As you can see, both options include complications, and any loss on the sale in either situation would be considered nondeductible. As experience bears out, stuff happens. In researching and writing this article, I found a website that actually lists 3,210 items of bad stuff that can happen. I didn’t have time to read them all but I liked a few, like #3135: The taxi driver drops you off at the wrong airport, #2750: Someone steals your laundry while it’s left out to dry and #1490: As a comedian, no one laughs at your jokes. I can relate. Stuff happens. JIM DENTON is a CPA and a managing partner with Arledge & Associates P.C. in Edmond. He may be reached via email at jim@jmacpas.com.
BUSINESS CALENDAR REI Women’s Business Center Women’s Business Breakfast 8:15-10 a.m. Sept. 4 Kamp’s 1910 Café 10 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City Free parking at Kamp’s and also on Ninth Street. To register, go online to www.reiwbc.org City Council 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 (Second and fourth Mondays) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Boulevard Rotary Club 6-7 p.m. Sept. 8 (Club meets every Monday) Louie’s Bar and Grill 1201 N.W. 178th St., Suite 101 For more information, http://facebook.com/ BoulevardRotary Centennial Kiwanis Club 6 p.m. Sept. 8 (Club meets every Monday) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway
Edmond Summit Rotary Club 7 a.m. Sept. 9 (Meets every Tuesday) Mercy I-35 2017 W. I-35 Frontage Road For more information, call 405-CUEARLY Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Business Development Luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 9 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. RSVP required at www.edmondchamber.com; Cost: $10 per person or $15 for non-members Edmond Evening Lions Club 6 p.m. Sept. 9 (Club meets second and fourth Tuesday) Johnnie’s 33 E. 33rd St. For more information, call Bob Austin at 285-4980 Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 9 Jetta 425 Centennial Blvd. No RSVP required for chamber members; cost free
Edmond Kiwanis Club Noon Sept. 10 (Club meets every Wednesday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Edmond Rotary Club Noon Sept. 10 (Club meets every Wednesday) Mercy at I-35 20147 W. I-35 Frontage Road For more information, facebook.com/ rotaryclubofedmond Edmond Exchange Club 7 a.m. Sept. 11 (Club meets every Thursday) Room 213 in the Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive For more information about the club, visit www.facebook.com/ EdmondMorningExchangeClub Oklahoma City American Marketing Association 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11 (Second Thursday of the month) Will Rogers Theatre 4322 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City, 73118 For more information, www.amaokc.org Edmond AMBUCS Noon Sept. 12 (Club meets every Friday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Call June Cartwright at 405-820-9667 for more information Edmond Economic Development Authority Board of Trustees 8:15 a.m. Sept. 16 (Third Tuesday) 825 E. Second St. Visit www.eeda.com; Call 340-0116 Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 (First and third Tuesday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Morning Mingle 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 17 Café 501 501 S. Boulevard No RSVP required and event is free for chamber members Edmond Young Professionals Networking Event 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 18 Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City 100 N. Broadway Ave., Oklahoma City RSVP required to mboswell@ edmondchamber.com. Cost: Free.
Launch Pad FT Discovery at Lunchtime seminar Noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 18 Speaker: Jeff Brown of Sola Business Solutions Topic: Mobile Device Management Cost: Free. Call Launch Pad FT Business Incubator at 717-7730 to register City Council 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22 (Second and fourth Monday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Noon Exchange Club Noon Sept. 24 (Fourth Wednesday of the month) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway To learn more, visit https://www.facebook. com/edmondexchange Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 25 Speaker: Lyn Watson of Strata Leadership Topic: Generational Differences Oklahoma Christian Gaylord University Center 2501 E. Memorial Road RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members Launch Pad FT Discovery at Lunchtime seminar Noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 26 Speaker: Barbara Cardin of Wheat Communications Topic: Trends in Mobile Marketing Cost: Free. Call Launch Pad FT Business Incubator at 717-7730 to register Edmond Young Professionals Leadership Latte 7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 30 Speaker: John deSteiguer, Oklahoma Christian University president Coffee Commission 309 S. Bryant, Suite 230 RSVP required to mboswell@edmondchamber.com. Cost: Free. Seating is limited Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce World of Thanks Block Party 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 30 Edmond Chamber 825 E. Second St. RSVP required at www.edmondchamber.com: Cost: free TO ADD your business event to this free calendar, email the details to lshearer@edmondsun.com. September 2014 | The Business Times
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BUSINESS MATTERS
NICK MASSEY ASTUTE INVESTOR
They Don’t Ring a Bell at the Top
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e know that investor confidence grows as paper profits in a long rally or bull market add up. We also know that investor sentiment will be at its most bullish for that cycle by the time a rally or bull market tops out. There is an old Wall Street legend that goes, “They don’t ring a bell at the top.” Everyone says they will get out before the next decline, but how will they know when it’s time to act? Since they don’t ring a bell at the top for either public investors or for socalled “smart money” (corporate insiders, institutional investors and billionaire hedge-fund managers), the data shows that the smart money crowd begins to sell when they consider risk has become too high, selling on the way up. They even use the degree of public investor sentiment as one of their tools in determining when risk becomes too high, along with valuation levels and other factors. History shows the majority of public investors do not seem to have any strategy at all for getting out — or back in. As a result, the data shows a repeating pattern of public investors coming into the market very timidly and late in bull markets, pouring increasing amounts of money in
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as their confidence grows, and then being hammered by the bear markets. As the vice president of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation said in 2001, “We have been at this for over 50 years, and see the same problem over and over again. Investors are enticed in during bull markets, but then don’t know what to do when things turn sour later.” The Investment Company Institute published a report showing how investors not only poured more money into stock mutual funds and ETFs in 2000, as the severe 2000-2002 bear market began, but also continued to do so at a then-record pace in 2001, even as the market plunged still further in the second year of that bear market, apparently “buying the dips.” It was not until after the bear market ended that they pulled money out of the
“There is an old Wall Street legend that goes, ‘They don’t ring a bell at the top.’ Everyone says they will get out before the next decline, but how will they know when it’s time to act?”
market, in 2002, 2003 and 2004, missing the first three years of the 2002-07 bull market. The same pattern repeated in the next cycle. It was not until 2005 that public investors began timidly putting money back into the new bull market. The inflow then increased, reaching a new record in 2007, as the severe 2007-09 bear market began. Investors continued to pour money in at a robust pace in 2008 as that bear market meltdown worsened. It was not until after the current bull market began in 2009 that investors began pulling money out of the market, and continued to do so in 2010, 2011 and 2012, even as institutional investors were pouring money back in. One has to wonder, with risk so typical of previous market tops, if the historical pattern for public investors is setting up again, or will they do a better job of getting out on time this time? We’ll soon see. Thanks for reading. NICK MASSEY is a financial adviser and president of Householder Group Financial Advisors in Edmond. Massey can be reached at www.nickmassey.com. Investment advice offered through Householder Group Estate and Retirement Specialists, a registered investment adviser.
BUSINESS BRIEFS INTEGRIS Physician Named President of National Poison Control Organization William Banner, a pediatric intensive care physician at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center and an Edmond resident, is elected president of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. He will serve as president elect for two years then officially begin his two year term as president in 2016. The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the nation’s 55 poison centers in William Banner their efforts to prevent and treat poison exposures. On average, poison control centers across the country receive more than 10,000 calls each day. These calls involve questions about household products, food and beverages, chemicals in the workplace and home, environmental toxins, drugs and medicine, and animal and insect bites and stings. Banner has served as medical director of the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information for 14 years. He says local poison control centers save lives and help reduce costly emergency room visits through inhome treatment. He is looking forward to his new role as the organization’s national president. “As we undergo major changes in our health care system, the need for poison control systems grows even greater,” Banner said. “We find ourselves increasingly helping with disasters like the recent chemical spill in West Virginia and also assisting the public with food safety questions, medication concerns and terrorist threats. From before birth to geriatric age we deal with issues that affect everyone, every day.” The American Association of Poison Control Centers based in Alexandria, Va., has a mission to assist local poison control centers through information, advocacy, education and research. Poison control centers offer free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.
‘How to Start a Small Business’ Workshop set for Sept. 19 The best resources for small business start-up tips are right at your fingertips: You simply have to know where to look. Potential small business owners will benefit from “Essential Steps for Starting Your Business,” a workshop scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 19. This special session offered by Francis Tuttle Business & Entrepreneurial Services, REI Women’s Business Center and SCORE will be at the Francis Tuttle Reno Campus, Room B2130, Reno Avenue, Oklahoma City. Registration is $20 per person and participants may register online at www.reiwbc.org. This four-hour workshop will help you examine the questions that should be asked and answered before beginning, and understand the importance of planning and the elements of a business plan. You will learn the requirements, processes, and contacts for registering a business in Oklahoma; develop a strong, focused marketing approach; and understand the basics of business financials and determine sources of funding. “This is your opportunity to learn about approaches for starting a business and whether or not it’s right for you,” said Jennifer Edwards, REI WBC coordinator. “We are here to help guide you and you won’t want to miss this unique workshop!” For more information about this event or others, call Jennifer Edwards at 405-319-8190, or visit www.reiwbc.org or facebook.com/REIWBC. REI Women’s Business Center is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. 28
September 2014 | The Business Times
UMB Bank promotes Johnson to senior vice president UMB Bank, n.a., a subsidiary of UMB Financial Corporation, has promoted Angie Johnson to senior vice president, treasury management regional sales manager. In her new role, Johnson is responsible for leading the treasury management sales teams in Oklahoma and Kansas, enriching the sales process with Angie Johnson product innovation and building brand awareness. Johnson has more than eight years experience in the banking and financial services industry. Prior to her new role as senior vice president, she served as senior vice president of cash management at Coppermark Bank, which merged with Prosperity Bank last year, in Oklahoma City. “Angie has shown great strength in her leadership skills throughout her career,” said Paul Jarrett, director of International Services and Sales. “She will play an integral role in growing our treasury management division and we look forward to her leadership in this new position.” Johnson attended Oklahoma State University and University of Colorado–Boulder. She is an active member of her community serving on multiple boards including; the Board of Directors for the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, chairman for the Oklahoma Young Professional Leaders and Oklahoma State University SSB Alumni Board.
UCO Career and Internship Fair set for Sept. 17 The University of Central Oklahoma will present its Fall Career and Internship Fair from noon to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in the ballrooms on the third floor of Central’s Nigh University Center. Presented by Central’s Career Services department, students will have the opportunity to make contacts and connect with many local and national organizations interested in hiring Central students and graduates. Organizations including Devon Energy, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, Paycom and the United States Probation Office are registered for the fair. Each employer will provide attendees with information about career and internship opportunities within their organizations. “The fair is a great way to learn about a variety of opportunities and employers who will be offering part-time jobs, internship and full-time positions. There will also be a number of graduate and professional schools attending this event,” said Elizabeth Enck, manager of Career Services at Central. “It’s a great way to get to interact in person with representatives from a wide range of industries who are here specifically looking to recruit UCO students.” Professional attire is required for entry, and the fair is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring several copies of their résumés. For more information about the fair and additional recruitment opportunities at Central, visit www.careers.uco.edu or contact Career Services at 405-974-3346.
BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER | THE BOOKWORM SEZ
“Supersurvivors” by David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz
c.2014, Harper Wave ve $25.99 / $31.99 Canada 243 pages
Lee Daniel Kravetz Photo by Christopher Wu
Y
ou’re not sure if you’ll ever recover. The loss of job or a business. The loss of a lifelong dream. The loss of your health or the life of someone you love. Without a doubt, you’ll never be the same. It’s the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Or is it? Studies show that, depending on several factors, hardship may be beneficial and may even strengthen you. Find out how in the new book “Supersurvivors” by David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz. Some 13 million people worldwide are diagnosed each year with cancer. About 10 million suffer brain injuries. Fifty million survive traffic accidents. The U.N. says that one-third of the world’s women will be abused at some point in their lives. About 25 percent of these people will suffer from PTSD. Yes, bad things happen to good people and trauma occurs somewhere daily. “Suffering is real,” the authors point out, but so is resiliency. Some folks, however, don’t just bounce back; they “bounce forward … .” The authors call them “supersurvivors” — people who “refocus their energies” after a traumatic, life-altering event to achieve
“some degree of positive change” from it. Their worst-case scenario turns around to become their best. Not surprisingly, supersurvivors share several common traits. Undoubtedly, they’re urged to think positively, but they don’t rely on it and may reject it completely in order to think realistically with “grounded hope.” They’re often told not to give up, but they understand that quitting is sometimes the only way to move forward. They acknowledge risk but utilize “comparative optimism” to carefully choose what happens next in life. Their belief in controlling their own destiny motivates them when they fail. Supersurvivors often hold a different “assumptive worldview” than most of us, and are able to “accommodate” a new normal within an old life. They look deep into beliefs of a higher power, and make peace with what they find. They have a strong support system, whether perceived or real. And supersurvivors know that forgiveness is essential for moving on — especially if it means forgiving themselves. Is it true that which does not kill you makes you stronger? The answer might lie inside studies and anecdotes gathered and
presented inside “Supersurvivors.” And it might irritate you. That’s because authors David B. Feldman and Lee Daniel Kravetz, who stress that they’re not trying to minimize anyone’s trauma, use science and research to blow apart old (and potentially ineffectual) advice for coping with tragedy. Advice, it seems, isn’t really all that helpful: I noticed that, ultimately, each individual profiled in this book — from athletes to Civil Rights leaders, soldiers to war survivors, accident victims to survivors of natural disasters — came to their own resolution for suffering that often had little to do with conventional thinking. And that’s part of what’s so intriguing about this book, that “every one of us has the capacity to be super.” And if you want to learn how, or learn how others have found that ability, “Supersurvivors” is a book you should uncover. TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER is a book reviewer in Wisconsin. She may be reached via email at bookwormsez@yahoo.com.
September 2014 | The Business Times
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LAST LOOK
SPECIAL TO THE BUSINESS TIMES
Mercy Breaks Ground for New Breast Health Facility
PHOTO PROVIDED | Rendering of Mercy Hospital’s $69 million new Coletta Building dedicated to Breast Health and Cancer Treatment and Research. By Patty Miller | The Business Times
M
ercy dignitaries broke ground Wednesday on a new $69 million breast health and cancer treatment and research building on the grounds of Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. With a projected opening date in spring 2016, the 86,000-squarefoot space will be accompanied by 42,000 square feet of additional space that will be available on the third floor for future growth. The facility will be named the Coletta Building in honor of Sister Mary Coletta Massoth, who, as president at the time, led a group of Mercy nuns 40 years ago in finding the 40 acres in north Oklahoma City to be the location for the new Mercy Hospital. “It is almost like it is in the DNA of ministry of the sisters,” said Lynn Britton, Mercy president and CEO. “They know almost instinctively (where to locate the places of healing).” Britton went on to say the remarkable woman who founded Mercy more than 187 years ago, Catherine McAuley, traveled in frequently terrible conditions throughout Ireland and England to help bless every new building. “She wrote, ‘It was worth it, however, because of the unique joy of seeing the ministry grow.’ I must confess I experience that same joy on days like today,” Britton said. A Community Advisory Board was formed of about 20 members for advice on how to build and operate the facility. “We reached out to the community for feedback from patients and their families who influenced the design of the new building to the services provided,” said Jim Gebhart, president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “The facility represents what patients and their family members need most when visiting Mercy.” Gebhart said they are almost halfway to their fundraising goal of $20 million toward the $69 million total cost. The purpose of Mercy is to grow with the needs of the community. “Health care may be going through a tumultuous change right now, but we are grateful for the blessing of growth to better serve the needs of our patients in Oklahoma,” Britton said. Britton went on to say for a health care system to invest deeply in cancer care is not unusual since cancer touches so many, but Mercy 30
September 2014 | The Business Times
Photo by Patty Miller Digging in during groundbreaking festivities for Mercy Hospital’s new Breast Health and Cancer Treatment and Research facility costing $69 million are Christy Everest, Louise Bennett, Jose Freede, Di Smalley, Lynn Britton, Dr. Suzanne Cole, and Dr. Foster Lasley. is going further than it has ever gone before in forming a Cancer Specialty Council composed of physicians who are considered some of the finest in their field. “The council will include Dr. Vikki Canfield, who together with this council will determine the newest and best practices for cancer care and share them with the entire Mercy ministry across four states,” Britton said. One member of the Mercy Experience team, Courtney Marquez, culminated the experiences of visiting with patients and their families about what matters most when diagnosed and treated for cancer. Dr. Canfield, medical oncologist, said there will be 16 full-time doctors as well as additional part-time doctors practicing when the Colletta Building is completed. “We will have an interdisciplinary collaboration working as teams to support our patients,” Dr. Canfield said. Under the Cancer Treatment and Research umbrella will be radiation oncology, medical oncology and a surgical oncology clinic. “We will have chemotherapy and infusion, clinical research and imaging services as well as lymphedema therapy,” Dr. Canfield said. “We also will have a cancer resource center and library, nutritional counseling and an appearance boutique. “Most importantly, we will have care coordination services through our team of care coordinators who will work with patients and their families.” Breast health will include mammography, breast MRI, genetic testing, bone density, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound, clinical research as well as research opportunities for improved early detection. Other services will include a prayer chapel, pharmacy, laboratory, cafe, gift shop with specialized cancer care items, a healing garden and valet parking. Cancer may be a fact of life, but Britton said Mercy’s goal is to offer a different type of experience. “Our hope is to offer an experience that minimizes trauma and maximizes hope that the ‘new’ normal may be even richer than the old,” Britton said.
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